Module for liquid chromatograph, controller, and liquid chromatograph

The present invention relates to a module having a part of a function of a liquid chromatograph, a controller that manages operation of each module in the liquid chromatograph, and the liquid chromatograph.

There is a liquid chromatograph including one or more modules and a controller that comprehensively manages operation of the modules (see WO 2020/183632 A). Modules of the liquid chromatograph include a liquid feeding pump, an autosampler, a column oven, a detector, and the like, and each module is connected to a controller by a unique communication line.

In order for the controller to identify each module and perform communication individually, it is necessary to set an identifier (connection address) for each module. In an analysis device such as a liquid chromatograph, it is common to manually set an identifier of each module.

In a liquid chromatograph, a real-time communication environment is required to obtain reproducibility of a chromatogram, and communication between a controller and each module needs to be completed within fixed time of several milliseconds. For this reason, there is a problem that, when a module independently performs communication with the controller, this interferes with communication between the controller and another module, a collision of communication data is generated, communication cannot be completed within fixed time, and real-time property is impaired. For this reason, the controller has served as an administrator of a bus to manage a voice of each module, and the controller communicates with each part with a set of setting and response sequentially.

It is complicated to manually set an identifier of each module. For this reason, it is also conceivable to automatically set an identifier of each module by using a DHCP function used in a general-purpose communication technique such as Ethernet. However, when a DHCP function is simply applied to an analysis device, a client (module) independently performs broadcast communication for searching for a DHCP server to which an identifier is assigned. Then, when a new module is connected to a controller for some reason during analysis, the module newly connected to the controller requests the server to assign an identifier. As a result, communication between another module and the controller is hindered, waiting time is generated in data communication, and there is a possibility that reproducibility of a chromatogram cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent hinderance of information communication between a controller and another device while automating assignment of an identifier to a module connected to the controller.

A module according to the present invention is a module for a liquid chromatograph that is incorporated in a liquid chromatograph and performs information communication with a controller of the liquid chromatograph. The module includes an assignment requesting part configured to transmit, when the module is an unassigned module that is a module to which an identifier for communication with the controller is not assigned, an assignment request for the identifier for automatically assigning the identifier to the controller only when request permission is given.

A controller according to the present invention is a controller for a liquid chromatograph that performs information communication with an assigned module that is a module to which an identifier is assigned.

The controller includes:

An analysis device according to the present invention is an analysis device including one or more modules and a controller that performs information communication with an assigned module that is the module to which an identifier is assigned, wherein

Since a module according to the present invention is configured not to transmit an assignment request for an identifier unless request permission is given from the outside if the module is an unassigned module, the module does not automatically transmit an assignment request for an identifier to the controller while a liquid chromatograph performs analysis or the like. By the above, it is possible to prevent hinderance of information communication between a controller and another device while automating assignment of an identifier to a module connected to the controller.

In a case where an unassigned module is present, the controller according to the present invention is configured to give request permission to the unassigned module only in a time zone in which the controller does not perform communication, and assignment of an identifier to the unassigned module is executed only when the controller gives request permission to the unassigned module, so that information communication between the controller and another device can be prevented from being hindered while assignment of an identifier to the unassigned module is automated.

The liquid chromatograph according to the present invention includes the module and the controller described above, so that assignment of an identifier to an unassigned module is executed only when analysis is not performed, and the like. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent hinderance of information communication between the controller and another device while automating assignment of an identifier to the unassigned module.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a module, a controller, and a liquid chromatograph according to the present invention will be described.

illustrates a schematic configuration of an analysis system. This analysis system includes a liquid chromatographand an arithmetic processing device. The arithmetic processing deviceis a computer device (for example, a personal computer) equipped with dedicated software for managing operation of the liquid chromatographand performing arithmetic processing of analysis data acquired by the liquid chromatograph.

The liquid chromatographincludes one or more modules-to-and a controller. An example of the liquid chromatographis a liquid chromatograph, and examples of the modules-to-include a liquid feeding pump, an autosampler, a column oven, a detector, and the like. Each of the modules-to-is connected to the controllerby an individual communication line. The controlleris realized by a computer circuit including a central processing part (CPU), an information storage memory, and the like. The arithmetic processing devicecommunicates with the controllerand transmits information such as an analysis schedule and an analysis condition of each piece of analysis to the controller. The controllercontrols operation of a module in a communicable state based on information given from the arithmetic processing device. Further, analysis data obtained by the liquid chromatographis transmitted from the controllerto the arithmetic processing device.

A connection address, which is an individual identifier, is automatically assigned to the modules-to-connected to the controllerby a communication line by a DHCP function, and a module to which a connection address is assigned (also referred to as assigned module) can perform mutual information communication with the controller. In, the module-is an assigned module to which a connection address ADis assigned, and the module-is an unassigned module to which a connection address is not yet assigned. As will be described later, the controlleris equipped with a DHCP server CF(server part) which is a function of automatically assigning a connection address to the unassigned module-in response to an assignment request from the unassigned module-

The controllerincludes the DHCP server CF, a request permission part CF, and an assignment state display part CF.

The DHCP server CFis a function of automatically assigning a connection address to the unassigned module-in response to an assignment request from the unassigned module-

The request permission part CFis a function of giving permission (hereinafter, request permission) to transmit an assignment request to the unassigned module-. The request permission part CFmonitors a state of the controller, and transmits a request permission notification to the unassigned module-only in a case where the controlleris in a state of not performing information communication (in particular, broadcast communication) with another module or the arithmetic processing device. Conversely, when the controlleris performing information communication with any device, a request prohibition notification is transmitted to the unassigned module-

The assignment state display part CFis a function of displaying whether or not assignment of a connection address to the unassigned module-is being executed. Examples of a function of the assignment state display part CFinclude a function of turning on an LED lamp provided on an outer surface of a housing of the controlleronly during execution of assignment, and a function of displaying that assignment is being executed on a display mounted on the controller.

Each of the modules-to-includes an assignment requesting part MF, a request permission giving part MF, and a state display part MF.

The assignment requesting part MFis a function of requesting the DHCP server CFof the controllerto assign a connection address. The assignment requesting part MFis configured to execute an assignment request for a connection address to the DHCP server CFonly when request permission is given.

The request permission giving part MFis a function for the user to directly give request permission to the assignment requesting part MF. The request permission giving part MFis realized by, for example, a request permission button provided on an outer surface of a housing of the modules-to-. In this case, the assignment requesting part MFis configured to determine that request permission is given when a request permission button is pressed, and transmit an assignment request for a connection address to the DHCP server CF. Note that an aspect of the request permission giving part MFis not limited to this.

The state display part MFis a function of displaying whether or not assignment of a connection address with the DHCP server CFis being executed. Examples of a function of the state display part MFinclude a function of turning on an LED lamp provided on an outer surface of a housing of each of the modules-to-only during execution of assignment of a connection address.

In this embodiment, since the controlleris equipped with the request permission part CF, a request permission is given to the unassigned module-in a time zone in which the controllerdoes not perform information communication with another device, so that a connection address can be assigned to the unassigned module-without hinderance of information communication between the controllerand another device. However, there may be a case where a controller as a connection destination of a module is connected is not equipped with the request permission part CF. In this case, since no request permission is given from the controller to the assignment requesting part MF, the assignment requesting part MFdoes not operate, and a situation where a connection address needs to be manually set is generated. If each of the modules-to-includes the request permission giving part MF, even if a controller as a connection destination does not include the request permission part CF, the user can give request permission to the assignment requesting part MFat an appropriate timing (for example, a timing at which the liquid chromatographis not executing analysis), so that automatic assignment of a connection address to the unassigned module-by a DHCP function can be realized. Conversely, if the module-is connected to the controllerincluding the request permission part CF, the function of the request permission giving part MFis unnecessary. Therefore, as a preferable aspect, the configuration may be such that the function of the request permission giving part MFis disabled in a case where a controller as a connection destination includes the request permission part CF, and the function of the request permission part MFis enabled only when a controller as a connection destination does not include the request permission part CF.

Here, an example of assignment of a connection address will be briefly described. When request permission is given to the unassigned module-, the assignment requesting part MFof the module-transmits an assignment request to the DHCP server CFof the controller. The DHCP server CFthat receives the assignment request proposes a connection address that can be assigned to the unassigned module-to the assignment requesting part MF. When the assignment requesting part MFthat receives the proposal of a connection address requests the DHCP server CFto permit use of the proposed connection address and the DHCP server CFgives use permission to the assignment requesting part MF, the connection address is set as a connection address of the module-

Note that an address set for a module is reset when power of the module is turned off. For this reason, assignment of a connection address is executed each time power of a module is turned on.

Next, an example of assignment of a connection address as seen from the module-connected to the controllerincluding the request permission part CFwill be described with reference toand a flowchart of.

When the module-is connected to the controller, the assignment requesting part MFof the module-receives a request permission notification from the request permission part CFof the controllerand transmits an assignment request to the DHCP server CF(Stepsand). By the above, assignment of a connection address to the module-is started between the assignment requesting part MFand the DHCP server CF. At this time, the state display part MFdisplays that assignment of a connection address is being executed by turning on an LED lamp on an outer surface of a housing of the module-or the like (Step).

When assignment of a connection address to the module-is completed (Step), the state display part MFdisplays that assignment of a connection address is not being executed by turning off an LED lamp on an outer surface of a housing of the module-or the like (Step). On the other hand, when the assignment requesting part MFreceives a request prohibition notification from the request permission part CFbefore assignment of a connection address to the module-is completed (Step), the assignment requesting part MFinterrupts the assignment being executed (Step). When a request permission notification is received from the request permission part CFwithin a certain period of time after interruption of the assignment, the assignment of a connection address between the assignment requesting part MFand the DHCH server CFis resumed, but when the interruption of the assignment continues for a certain period of time, the assignment of a connection address is stopped (Step). Also in this case, the state display part MFdisplays that assignment is not being executed (Step).

Next, an example of assignment of a connection address as seen from the module-connected to a controller not including the request permission part CFwill be described with reference toand a flowchart of.

After the module-is connected to a controller not including the request permission part CF, when request permission is given from the request permission giving part MFto the assignment requesting part MFas a request permission button provided on an outer surface of a housing of the module-is pressed or the like (Step), the assignment requesting part MFtransmits a request for assigning a connection address to the module-to the DHCP server CF(Step). By the above, assignment of a connection address to the module-is started between the assignment requesting part MFand the DHCP server CF. At this time, the state display part MFdisplays that assignment of a connection address is being executed (Step). After that, when the assignment of a connection address to the module-is completed (Step), the state display part MFdisplays that the assignment is not being executed (Step).

Next, an example of assignment of a connection address as seen from the controllerincluding the request permission part CFwill be described with reference toand a flowchart of.

When the module-is connected to the controller, the request permission part CFchecks whether or not the controlleris performing information communication with another device, and if the information communication is not performed (Step: No), transmits a request permission notification to the module-(Step). On the other hand, when the controlleris performing information communication with another device (Step: Yes), the request permission part CFtransmits a request prohibition notification to the module-(Step).

After the request permission part CFtransmits a request permission notification, when an assignment request is transmitted from the module-to the controller, assignment of a connection address to the module-is started between the DHCP server CFand the assignment requesting part MFof the module-(Step). At this time, the assignment state display part CFdisplays that assignment of a connection address is being executed, for example, by turning on an LED lamp provided on an outer surface of a housing of the controller(Step). After that, when the assignment of a connection address to the module-is completed (Step: Yes), the assignment state display part CFturns off the LED lamp on the outer surface of the housing of the controlleror the like to display that the assignment of a connection address is not being executed (Step).

The embodiment described above is merely an example of an embodiment of a module, a controller, and a liquid chromatograph according to the present invention. The embodiment of the module, the controller, and the liquid chromatograph according to the present invention is as described below.

An embodiment of a module according to the present invention is a module for a liquid chromatograph that is incorporated in a liquid chromatograph and performs information communication with a controller of the liquid chromatograph. The module includes an assignment requesting part configured to transmit, when the module is an unassigned module that is a module to which an identifier for communication with the controller is not assigned, an assignment request for the identifier for automatically assigning the identifier to the controller only when request permission is given.

In aspect [1] of the above embodiment of the module, the module includes a request permission giving part for the user to give the request permission to the assignment requesting part, and the assignment requesting part is configured to transmit the assignment request when the request permission is given through the request permission giving part (MF). According to this aspect, since an assignment request to the controller can be transmitted from the module at a timing desired by the user, it is possible to avoid a timing at which the controller performs information communication with another device, such as while a liquid chromatograph performs analysis.

In the above aspect [1], the request permission giving part may be a request permission button provided on an outer surface of a housing of the module, and the assignment requesting part (MF) may be configured to determine that the request permission is given when the request permission button is pressed.

Further, in an aspect [2] of the above embodiment of the module, the assignment requesting part is configured to transmit the assignment request only when the request permission is given from the controller. This aspect [2] assumes that the controller has a function of checking its own state and permitting execution of assignment request to an unassigned module at such a timing that information communication with another device is not hindered. According to this aspect [2], since assignment of an identifier to an unassigned module is executed only at a timing at which information communication between the controller and another device is not hindered, automatic assignment of an identifier to the unassigned module can be realized without hinderance of communication between the controller and another device.

Further, an aspect [3] of the above embodiment of the module further includes a state display part that performs display indicating a state in which assignment of an identifier to the module is being executed. According to such an aspect, the user can easily recognize that assignment of an identifier to the module newly connected to the controller is performed.

An embodiment of a controller according to the present invention is a controller for a liquid chromatograph that performs information communication with an assigned module that is a module to which an identifier is assigned.

The controller includes:

The above embodiment of the controller may include an assignment state display part indicating that the server is executing assignment of the identifier to the unassigned module. In this way, the user can easily recognize that assignment of an identifier to the module newly connected to the controller is performed.

Further, in the above embodiment of the controller, the request permission part may be configured to give the request permission only when the liquid chromatograph is not being analyzed.

An embodiment of a liquid chromatograph according to the present invention is a liquid chromatograph including an assigned module that is a module to which an identifier is assigned and a controller that performs information communication with the assigned module.

The controller includes: